Lifestyle Outdoor: 5 Brands Doing Blue Jeans Differently

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Sometimes you just want useful gear that looks good in the outdoors. This week, Lifestyle Outdoor looks at jeans.

Arguably the most timeless piece of clothing, blue jeans are an international staple. You can wear them with almost anything on top and, sized right, jeans are comfy to boot.

Instead of calling out stiff jeans that are bluer than Elijah Woods’ eyes, this list highlights unique jeans brands. Some offer a sustainable story, and others are made for outdoor adventure. No matter what, though, each has something that sticks out.

5 New Jeans That Stick Out

S.E.A. Jeans by Kelly Slater’s Outerknown are among the most sustainable jeans on the market. The acronym stands for Social Environmental Accountability.

Manufactured in the “world’s cleanest denim factory,” Saitex in Vietnam recycles 98 percent of the water it uses to make jeans and turns the last 2 percent into sludge for building bricks. This means S.E.A. Jeans use 90 percent less water than conventional cotton jeans.

American Giant sources its denim in Georgia and assembles the jeans in Los Angeles. That means these blue jeans are completely made in the U.S. — a rarity in today’s jeans market. We’ve used American Giant clothing before and attest to its durability and build quality.

Call these jeans adventure ready. Boulder Denim ensured its eco-friendly jeans retain their stretchiness over time and are resistant to spills and stains. With manufacturing in Canada, Boulder Denim uses organic cotton. And there are no leather patches, so the jeans are vegan.

I’ve done yoga in these jeans, and I would do it again. These are some of the stretchiest jeans out there with comfort to match. Black Diamond’s Forged Denim comes out in spring 2019 and uses Cordura fibers for durability.

Looking for more in the world of outdoor style? Check out the latest in water bottles:

Lifestyle Outdoor: 5 Water Bottles for 5 Different People

Once for simply holding water, water bottles have since elevated to personality-defining health icons. Thanks to the sheer quantity of water bottles on the market, water bottles can now make fashion statements. Read more…

Midwest born, Nate Mitka is based in the GearJunkie Denver office. He is an advocate of all outdoor activities and has developed some habits, like running without headphones, eating raw vegetables, and fixing the chain on his ratty old bike.